Have you ever caught yourself craning your neck up in a crowd just to spot someone extra tall? I was browsing old records the other day and wondered: who is the tallest person in the world? It’s one of those amazing facts that makes you stop and say, “Wow—how tall could that really be?”
The Tallest Person Ever Recorded
When we talk about the tallest person in the world, we usually mean the tallest person in recorded history, under verified medical measurements. That title belongs to Robert Pershing Wadlow from Illinois, USA.
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At his last measurement (June 27, 1940), he stood 2.72 meters (8 ft 11.1 in) tall.
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His extraordinary growth was caused by a medical condition—overactivity of his pituitary gland, which produced excess growth hormone (a form of gigantism).
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Tragically, he died just months after that measurement, at age 22, from complications related to a foot injury.
Interesting fact: Robert Wadlow’s shoes had to be custom made, with a size of 37 AA (U.S.), which is the largest size ever recorded.
Because of comprehensive, verified medical and photographic evidence, Guinness World Records recognizes him as the tallest person “of whom there is irrefutable evidence.”
Tallest Living Person Today
Of course, records evolve over time. As of recent years, a Turkish man named Sultan Kösen holds the title of the tallest living person. He is around 2.51 m (8 ft 2.8 in) tall.
Because medical treatments today can slow or stop excessive growth, surpassing Wadlow’s record is considered extremely unlikely.
Why Did Wadlow Grow So Big?
Understanding his condition helps explain how someone could reach such heights.
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The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, controls many hormones—including growth hormone. In Wadlow’s case, it was overactive (hyperplasia).
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Without treatments available at the time (or safe enough for his situation), his growth never slowed.
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His body had to support an enormous frame. He used leg braces, had limited sensation in feet and legs, and needed custom furniture and clothing.
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His health challenges contributed to his untimely death—an infected blister on his ankle worsened, leading to complications.
Other Tall People of Note
While Wadlow holds the top record, there have been others who approached extraordinary heights. Here are a few:
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Väinö Myllyrinne (Finland) reached about 2.48 m (8 ft 1.6 in), and was considered the tallest living man for a time in the mid-20th century.
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Franz Winkelmeier (Austria) was claimed to be extremely tall, though his verified measured height was around 2.28 m.
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Radhouane Charbib (Tunisia) held the record for tallest living man from 1998 to 2005 at about 7 ft 8.87 in.
These individuals highlight how rare extreme height is—and how much variance there is in measurement, documentation, and medical support.
PERSONAL INSIGHT
I find stories like Wadlow’s deeply humbling. Imagining someone nearly nine feet tall walking among us feels surreal. It also makes me reflect on how our bodies are this wild intersection of biology, chance, and medical possibility—and how rare cases push science to learn more.
CONCLUSION
To sum up: the tallest person in recorded history is Robert Wadlow, measured at 2.72 m (8 ft 11.1 in), thanks to a medical condition that caused unchecked growth. Today’s tallest living person, Sultan Kösen, is impressive—but still falls well short of Wadlow’s record. The title “tallest person in the world” captures a mix of wonder, medical science, and human story. What do you think—do you believe we’ll ever see someone taller than Wadlow?